Perry ‘not at all’ worried about Obama rebuke (UPDATE)

President Obama “gently rebuked” Gov. Rick Perry for deciding that Texas wouldn’t take part in the Race to the Top education reform program.

Here’s the rebuke:

Announcing a new $1.35 billion investment to expand the program to allow local school districts to compete for grants, Obama said: “Innovative districts like the one in Texas whose reform efforts are being stymied by state decision-makers will soon have the chance to earn funding to help them pursue those reforms.”

As you might expect, this appears to be music to the ears of the red-meat Republican governor, whose primary campaign against U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison plays big on the fact she works in Washington (where she says she’s fighting hard against Obama’s proposals on issues including health care).

“Not at all,” Perry campaign spokesman Mark Miner said when asked whether the governor is concerned about the rebuke. “If we’re disagreeing with the president on these types of policies, we’re doing the right thing. Whether it’s education or cap and trade or health care reform, the governor will continue opposing the president on these issues. … The governor will continue opposing misguided policies coming from Washington.”

UPDATE: Not only is Perry unruffled by Obama’s comments, he’s slamming the plan announced by the president to allow school districts to compete individually for the dollars rejected on the state’s behalf.